Filing equipment



Aug. 26, 1941.

E. KERN FILING EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 51, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor. final/22W;

orn ey.

Aug. 26, 1941. E N 2,253,788

FILING EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 31, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I nvenlor. Z2217 Ker/2 Patented Aug. 26, 1941 UNITED} STATES PATENT OFFICE .rrnmg n z rfiimnnr v I v I .Emil Kern, Long Island City, N.- Y., assignor to Acco Products, 1110., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December a1, 1938, Serial No. 248,693

The invention relates to filing equipment and more particularly to filing units and means for mounting said units in a cabinet or the like.

Large drawings, maps, samples, and the like, are not easily filed and maintainedaccessible in some types of filing equipment because often such drawings, maps, etc., must be laid fiat one upon another. Other known types of filing equipment, such as those disclosed in Patents #1,867,158 and #1,867,159, consist of afiling cabinet, or-the like, having removable'filing units therein from which the drawings, maps, or the like are suspended. The present invention embodies improvements on the latter type of filing equipment.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide filing equipment with simple, efficient and inexpensive filing units to facilitate suspension or vertical filing.

Another object is to provide a novel frame structure for a filing cabinet or the like which will accommodate many or a few vertical filing units.

Another object is to provide a vertical filing unit with novelly mounted and constructed hanger arms or rods arranged to receive slidable suspension members.

Another object is to provide inexpensive suspension members slidable on the hanger arms or rods, which embody novel structural details.

The foregoing and such other objects of the 5 Claims. (0 1. 45-2) Fig. 10 is afragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 8, showing another modified form of filing unit.

Fig. 11 is an elevational view taken substantially along line H-H of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified form of filing unit similar to that shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view similar modified form of slidable suspension member.

Fig. 19 is an elevational view, partly broken away, showing another form of slidable suspension member. 1

Throughout the description, like numerals identify corresponding parts in the drawings.

- The invention is best illustrated as shown mounted within a cabinet I I having spaced apart vertical frame members l2, one preferably adinvention as will appear hereinafter, will be more readily understood from a perusal of the follow-- ing specification. in which reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet. partially broken away to show one embodiment of the im ro ed filing. units.

'Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of t e cabinet.

Fig. 3 is a fra mentary plan view showing the han er rod'mo n'ting.

Fi 4 is a fra mentary eleva i nal view/taken substantially along line 4-4 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to Fig. 4, showing a modified form of filing unit.

line 56 of Fi 5.

Fi 7 is a f m ntary vi w si ilar to Fig. 6, showing a modified form of filing unit.

Fi 8 is a fra mentary sec ional view similar to Fig. 6, showin a modified structure.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fi 6 is a f a mentary sectional view taken on jacent each corner thereof. It is obvious, however, that the vertical frame members I! may constitute a part of an open frame work which may readily be set up in a cabinet or other suitable enclosure, such as for example, a-vault or closet.

The vertical frame members l2 provide a mounting for spaced apart filing unit supports l3 and M. as best illustrated in the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. Each support l3 and I4 extends transversely of the cabinet H and each is detachably secured at its ends, preferably below the top wall of the cabinet, to the associated frame members l2 by bolts IS. The vertical frame members I! preferably are provided with uniformly spaced holes it along their entire len th. whereby the supports l3 and I4 may be adjustablv secured at any required elevation. In the cabinet shown (Fig. 1) only one set of supports l3 and, I4 is illustrated, but it is a pa ent; that. should the sheets or other contents l1, mounted in the cabinet;not require the full height, or should a larger cabinet be available, a second set of supports could be attached to the vertical frame members I2, just below the bottom edge of the sheets suspended from the upper filing unit supports.

The horizontal supports I3 and I 4 afford a mounting for a plurality of novelly constructed filingunits, each of which comprises a "hanger arm or rod I8 and a suspension member I9, slidable thereon, to which the file contents, such as sheets I1, is secured. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the rod I8 has a downturned portion 2| (Fig. 2) at its rear end and an oval-shaped portion 22 at its forward end. The down-turned portion 2I isinserted through an elongated hole 23 (Fig. 3) provided therefor in the horizontal flange of the rear filing unit support I4, whereby a loosely fitted pivotal mounting is provided to enable the rod to tilt downwardly sufficiently to dispose its free forward end 22 below the bottom edge of the front filing unit support I3. The degree of tilting is limited by abutment of the bottom end of portion 2 I, preferably, with the vertical wall of the rear support I4.

While the rod I8 is in its downwardly tilted or forwardly inclined position, the suspension member I9 may be freely slid onto or withdrawn from the rod. Each suspension member I9 preferably constitutes a stiff sheet, such as metal, heavy cardboard, fabric, composition, or the like. The sheet is folded longitudinally, substantially U- shaped, to provide spaced apart side walls, preferably of uniform depth. Said walls preferably are apertured, as at 24 (Fig. 18) to readily receive the prongs of suitable fasteners 24a, whereby the sheets I1 are securely clamped and bound thereby, adjacent one edge, between the spaced apart suspension member walls. Obviously, other types of fastening mfans may be used, and if the files are made up in permanent form, rivets, staples or stitch binding may be employed.

It should be noted that the sheets I1 do not extend to the entire depth of the U-shaped member but; that, a space is maintained along the upper folded edge of said member to freely admit the hanger rod I8.

After a suspension member I 9 has been slipped over the downwardly tilted rod I8, the ovalshaped forward end 22 of said rod is grasped and the rod is manually raised to carry said end into engagement with a hook-like formation 25, preferably formed in the vertical wall portion of the front support I3. The hanger rod is thus held in a substantially horizontal position and the suspension member I9 with its contents cannot be withdrawn. To remove the suspension member, the forward end of the rod I8 must be disengaged from the front support and the rod permitted to tilt downwardly, whereby the member I9 may be freely slid off after first being assisted 'past the slight shoulder formed by the ovalshaped portion. Accurate filing of the various suspension members I 9 is facilitated by a suitable tab receptacle 26 on each member and, as at 21, on the front support, to receive index tabs. Accordingly, any suspension member withdrawn is readily returned to its proper place in the filing cabinet.

In Figs. and 6, a structure substantially like that hereinbefore described is illustrated. In this instance, the front support I3a carries a plurality of spaced hooks 28, preferably formed of strip material, each to receive the free forward end of arm or rod I8.

The structure illustrated in Fig. 7 differs from the previously described arrangements in that the rod I80. is supported at its rear end only in the rear support I4. The forward end of the slidable suspension member Ifla has an upstanding hook 29. The hook is adapted to be engaged over the edge of an aperture 3| in the front support I 3b, to retain the assembled filing unit horizontal. By providing a like hook at each end of the suspension member, said member may be reversed end for end.

In the device illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, a channel Ila provides the rear support. As shown, the down-turned end 2| of the hanger rod I8 extends through appertures in the flanges. The aperture 23a, in the lower flange, is elongated to allow for tilting of the rod. The front support I3c also differs from those hereinbefore described in that it has a rearwardly extending flange suitably formed to provide a plurality of semi-circular sockets 32, each to receive and support the front end of one rod I 8.

In the device illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, the rear support I 41; is apertured to receive the straight end of the hanger rod I817. The front support I3d has hook-like formations 25a each to receive and support the front end of one rod I8b.

The structure illustrated in Fig. 12, is similar to that shown in Fig. 7. Here the front support I3e has a hook 33 which is engaged by a ring or eyelet 29a carried in the forward end of the suspension member l9b. The ring or eyelet 29a serves as a handle to facilitate sliding of the member I9 and, by providing one at each end of the member, said member is then reversible.

In the structure shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the rear end of the hanger rod I8c has a threaded reduced diameter 34 extending through an aperture in the rear support He and is retained loosely therein by a nut 35. The front support I3f carries a plurality of pivotally mounted hooks 36, one provided to engage and support the forward end ofeach rod.

The rear supports Md, shown in Figs. 15 and 16, differ slightly from the showing in Fig. 13. In Fig. 15, a bayonet slot 31 is provided to receive the channeled end portion of the hanger rod I8d. In Fig. 16, a substantially triangular shaped aperture 38 is provided to receive the rear end portion .of the hanger rod I8e, which portion is suitably cut to detachably engage therein.

In the device as shown in Fig. 17, no front support is required. The hanger rod if has a groove 39, adjacent its end, like rod l8d of Fig. 15, to embrace the bottom edge of a rear support I 46. The rod Ill! extends forwardly across the top edge of a second rear support 4| provided forward of the support He. The co-acting edges of the two rear supports may be notched to insure uniform spacing of the rods. In this disclosure, a modified form of suspension member I So is shown, which may consist of a single thickness of flat stock apertured adjacent one edge to receive the fasteners 2411. Its opposite longitudinal edge carries suitable eyelets or rings 42 f3; sliding engagement with: the hanger rod The suspension member 18, differs from the other types shown, only in that the upper edge of its single wall is rolled over to provide a continuous tubular channel 43 for sliding on the hanger d'rod.

In Fig. 19, the suspension member I96 has tubular rod receiving portions 43a struck from one face thereof, preferably at regular intervals. throughout its length.

The filing equipment described provides a simple, inexpensive, compact and convenient fll- I 9d, illustrated in Fig.

sion members illustrated, associated with any one of the various types 01 hanger rods and supporting means applicable to such interchanging.

It is to be understood; that, the disclosures herein are illustrative ratherthan restrictive; and that, various changes may be made in the detail structure of the various parts, hence it is not desired to be limited to the precise structural details shown, but only insofar as may be required by thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a filing device, a pair of vertically adjustable supports, a plurality of substantially horizontally extending rods mounted loosely at one end in one of said supports, means in the other support each to receive and support the free end of one of said rods, the free ends of said rods being adapted to be disengaged from the supporting means, sheet suspension members one slidable on each rod and means on the free end of each rod toprevent inadvertent sliding of the suspension member ofl. said rod while said end is disengaged.

2. In a filing device, in combination, a hanger arm having means at one end to provide a tiltable mounting for said end, an enlargement on the other end of said arm, an inverted U-shaped sheet suspension member slidable on said arm over said enlargement, means to engage the enlarged end of said arm to maintain it substantially rigid, the enlarged ends or said rods being adapted to be disengaged from said means, and means to limit tilting oi. said arm when said enlarged end is disengaged.

3. In a filing device, in combination, a sup- I port, an arm loosely mounted at one end in said support whereby it is free to tilt forwardly downwardly relative thereto, means to limit the amount of tilting, a sheet suspension member telescopically mounted on said arm, said member being slidable over the free end of said arm, means on the arm to prevent inadvertent sliding off of the suspension member while said arm is tilted,

a second support, and means on said second support to co-act with said arm to maintain it substantially horizontally.

4. In a filing device, in combination, a support, an arm pivotally mounted in said support for movement through a substantially horizontal plane, said arm being adapted to tilt downwardly relative to said support, means to limit the amount of said tilting, a sheet suspension member telescopically mounted on said arm, said member being slidable over the free end of said arm,'means to prevent inadvertent sliding of said suspension member off from said arm while the arm is tilted, a second support, and engageable means on said second support to maintain said arm substantially rigid horizontally.

5. In a filing device, in combination, a substantially horizontal arm mounted at each end in a support, a sheet suspension member telescopically associated with said arm, said arm being disengageable from one of its supports whereby it is free to tilt downwardly toward its free end to permit withdrawal and replacement of the suspension member, and means on said free end of the arm to prevent inadvertent sliding off of the suspension member while said arm is tilted.

EMIL KERN. 

